China approves domestically-developed Ebola vaccine

China has approved a domestically developed Ebola vaccine, according to China Food and Drug Administration ( CFDA ) on Friday.

CFDA said the vaccine was developed by Academy of Military Medical Sciences and CanSino Biologics INC.

It stated that the approval made China the third country to develop vaccine against Ebola following United States and Russia.

The vaccine is based on 2014 mutant gene type and in the form of freeze-dried powder which can
remain stable for at least two weeks in temperatures of up to 37 degrees Celsius and suitable for climate in West Africa.

The vaccine was clinically approved by CFDA in February 2015 and underwent clinical trials in Sierra Leone, one of the country’s worst hit by Ebola.

The virus was discovered in 1976 and severely affected countries including Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone from 2013, claiming the lives of more than 11,000 people.